Biochemical plants in chimneys
11 Jan 2012
?RWE Power and biotechnology company BRAIN are to expand their joint CO2 -to-chemicals research in view of “very promising” results of a project at the Niederaussem power station in Germany.
The partners aim to use specially bred micro-organisms to convert CO2 into biomass, bio-materials, bio-plastics and intermediate chemical products. So far, more than Euro2 million has been invested in the research.
According to RWE, the two-year research programme has found that tailor-made micro-organisms can ’feed’ directly on CO2-containing flue gases from lignite-fired power stations and even grow at temperatures of 60°C.
Researchers at BRAIN screened the white biotechnology company’s own bioarchive, as well as samples taken straight from the flue of the Niederaussem BoA 1 power station. The goal was to establish which microorganisms are able to grow in flue gas conditions utilising CO2.
Just a third of around 3,000 micro-organisms studied, qualified for further investigation to identify and characterise the most efficient utilisers of CO2. The researchers have now selected 29 candidates with particularly convincing growth properties - of which 10 were previously unknown.
Announcing plans to expand the research, Dr Johannes Heithoff, head of R&D at RWE Power, said:?“We are thoroughly convinced by the results delivered by BRAIN’s research team in co-operation with our power station experts.”
RWE Power will now examine other carbon-rich waste streams generated, for example, by sewage water, food production or refinery processes. This work, it said, will involve an alliance of 21 industrial companies, SMEs and academic research institutions.
Meanwhile, a coal innovation centre at the Niederaussem power plant site is combining all RWE Power’s activities on clean-coal power generation. It also operates a pilot plant in which lignite is pre-dried - fluidised bed drying using internal waste heat - and a special scrubber unit, designed for improved dust and SO2 capture.
